SINCE Shakespeare's life was now centred in the London
playhouses, and since both his personal and his literary
career were bound up with the fortunes of his troupe, we
must turn next to certain events in the theatrical world
deeply affecting the Chamberlain's Men: the construction
of the Blackfriars Playhouse, later occupied by them;
the building of the Swan Playhouse to compete with
them; and, finally, the erection of the Globe to serve
henceforth as their permanent home.1

It will be recalled that James Burbage instead of purchasing the land on which he built the Theatre in 1576
merely leased it for a term of twenty-one years. Unless
renewed, the lease would expire in April, 1597, he would
lose his profitable investment, and the Chamberlain's
Men would be driven from their playhouse. For ten
years he had been pleading with the owner of the land, Gyles Alleyn, for an extension of the demise, but without success; and when at last his tenure was entering
upon its last year, he realized that he must at once do
something to safeguard his interests and the interests
of the Chamberlain's Company. He resolved, therefore,
to build a theatre elsewhere, and to have it ready for the
actors on or before the expiration of the lease.

But his fertile mind, which had already created the
existing type of playhouse -- a circular tower-like structure, with the centre open to the sky -- now conceived
of a new type of theatre, better adapted to the comfort

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